Chapter Text
Ten Years Later
“Amy.” Jake whispered as she stirred in her sleep snuggling up closer to him. “Ames we have to get up.”
“What time is it?” She asked still half asleep her arm flung across Jake’s torso.
“Seven am.” Jake said as he pulled her closer to him. It was a bad decision, now they were never going to get up. “We have to make the kid’s lunch.”
Amy groaned as she buried her face into his shoulder. The sun creeping in through the blinds was way to bright. Especially when it was reflected on snow. “Why did we ever decide to have kids?”
“Well our first one was an accident remember? A miracle accident. And then the other two were because we loved the first one-”
“Jake I know why we have kids.” Amy said way too tired to indulge in this conversation. She moved herself so that she was laying on top of him. “Did you take the next three days off?”
“Yes. Because you texted me twenty times and then texted Holt to make sure that I had. So yes I got them off.”
“We all know I texted you at least fifty times.” Amy said as she leaned down to kiss him. His hands found her waist and held her close to him as he kissed her back morning breath in all. After a few minutes he flipped them so that he was lying on top of her. “We don’t have time for this.” Amy said as he kissed down her neck. “Plus the kids are going to be up any second now.”
“What do you think locks are for?” Jake asked just as their bedroom door opened.
There was a shrieking sound from a seven year old and then the sound of feet running across the hardwood floor. “Mommy and Daddy are kissing.”
“And moment over.” Jake said as he crawled off of Amy. Amy got out of bed and made her way into the kitchen.
“Charlie!” She shouted at her son who was sitting in front of the tv. “What did I tell you? No video games before breakfast or school.”
“But mom.” Her ten year old whined. “Jacksons score is better than mine and he keeps bragging about it at school.”
“Then beat his score and show him who's boss.” Jake chimed in as he looked through the cabinets for the pancake mix.
“Not the route we’re going to take.” Amy said to Jake before turning back to Charlie. “I’m sure that you’ll have plenty of time to beat his score during Thanksgiving break.”
Charlie huffed before making his way back to the table and sitting down next to his brother. “Isiah is doing homework that he was supposed to do last night.”
“Am not!” Isiah shouted at his brother. “This is extra credit and it’s not due for another four weeks. Unlike you I don’t leave things for the last minute. I’m in the second grade not first grade anymore.”
“Wow look at you such a big kid.” Charlie teased.
“Charlie.” Jake said sternly. “Be nice to your brother.”
Amy left the kitchen momentarily and called up the stairs to their daughter. “Izzy!” She shouted. “Pancakes are almost done.”
“Okay.” The five year old shouted back before running down the stairs almost too fast. It made Amy nervous watching the way her little legs wobbled down each step.
“Why don’t you go get a seat next to your brothers.” The little girl nodded racing into the kitchen.
“There’s my little girl.” Amy could hear Jake say when Isabel made it into the room. Amy smiled as her giggle floated down the hallway.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow.” Isaiah said. “Thanksgiving break is the best.”
“I’m going to play xbox the whole time.”
“No you’re not.” Jake said as he brought a big plate of pancakes over to the table. “You’re going to spend some quality time with your family because that’s what this holiday is all about.” Charlie sighed as he reached for a pancake.
Isaiah grabbed one and folded it up taking a big bite out of it “Can I get a bowl for syrup?” He asked with a mouth full of food.
“No.” Amy said "but you can pour it on your pancake and eat it with a fork like a civilized person.”
“This is how dad eats them.” Isaiah argued glancing over at his father who was mid chew with a pancake in his hand.
“Just because that’s how dad eats them doesn't mean that’s how you should.”
“But I want to be just like dad.” Isaiah said as he took another bite out his pancake very reminiscent of the way a lion chews apart it’s prey. Amy looked at Jake and waited for him to jump in but all he did was reach across the table and high five his son. Amy rolled her eyes and tried not to smile, but that wasn’t exactly easy.
She looked down at her watch and was filled with the slight bit of panic in her chest. “I have to go, I’m going to be late.” She said standing up and quickly putting her dish in the dishwasher. Jake stood up from the table and walked to the door with her.
“One more day and then you get a break.” He said with a smile.
“I know. Not that I really need a break I mean I love teaching these kids about how important it is to stand up for what they believe in. You going to be able to get them all to school?” She asked
“Amy. I think I can manage to get our kids to school. It’s not rocket science.”
“Make sure that Isabel matches this time. I don’t want to pick her up and have a teacher tell me that she loved the ‘effort’ my husband put into dressing her.”
“I’ll just stick with neutral colors. And if I have any doubt I will text you a picture.”
“Okay.” Amy said as stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips. “Love you.” She said.
“Love you too.” He said as she walked out of the house closing the door behind her.
--------
“This town wouldn’t exist without people making a choice to break the rules.” Amy said to a class of college freshman. “None of this would. You and I wouldn’t know each other. I would be living in New York married to someone I didn't love. I wouldn't have three beautiful children. Most of you if not all of you wouldn’t exist.” Amy said pausing and looking down at her watch realizing there were only a couple of minutes left.
“The point is, that it’s important to stand up for what you believe in. And if you can’t stand up for everyone else at least stand up for yourself. When I left New York I never would’ve thought that I would be leading a resistance but here I am. If something isn’t right, do something about it. Don’t just sit back and let it happen.” She looked down at her watch again, there were five minutes left. “Alright I’ll let you guys go early. Have a great thanksgiving.”
Student’s quickly shuffled out of the auditorium some coming down to say thanks or how much they liked the lecture while others came down to complain about a grade on a paper. “Amy.” One student said and Amy looked up shocked to hear a kid call her by her first name.
She glanced up and felt her breath hitch in her throat. “Sammy?” She asked sounding spooked as if she had seen a ghost.
“Yeah it’s me. It’s been a while.” Sammy said back awkwardly swaying back and forth. “Things were pretty rough for a while once you left. Dad was pissed, mom was upset. It wasn’t a good time.”
Amy stared at him completely shocked to see the boy she knew as an eleven year old standing in front of her all grown up. “How’d you find me?” She said almost in a whisper terrified that maybe others were on the way.
“By pure luck.” Her brother said and she sighed a breath of relief. “Mom and Dad have no idea that I’m here. They don’t know where I am.”
“Why?” She asked. “What happened.”
“I fell in love.” Sammy said. “Her name was Mia. Is Mia.” He corrected himself. “She’s not dead yet, but she’s going to be.” Amy stared at him not sure what to say luckily Sammy continued. “I want you to save her.”